It’s been a week since we celebrated Earth Day. Have you already forgotten about the planet?
I’m not casting any stones, because I’m in the same boat.
Lately, I’ve gotten into this nasty habit of guzzling down bottles. To make matters worse, I have neglected to recycle them once I finish.
I’ve been wasteful with my grocery habits, opting for prepackaged foods with lots of packaging that goes straight into the landfill.
I leave the water running while brushing my teeth, and I’m guilty of leaving the fan on while I leave a room.
While I admit I’m not a hero when it comes to saving the environment, I didn’t think my habits were especially heinous.
I clean my trash after a day at the beach, I drive a fuel-efficient car and use energy-efficient light bulbs.
But when I took an ecological footprint quiz by the Center for Sustainable Economy, I discovered if everyone in the planet lived exactly how I do, we would need the resources of 4.89 Earths to sustain my lifestyle.
A surprising statistic to me. It’s not like I’m responsible for dumping millions of gallons of oil in the Gulf Coast, bulldozing the rainforest or climate change.
While I know the tried-and-true ways to reduce my carbon footprint (carpool, buy green products, use reusable bags), there were some tactics that were surprising to me, such as keeping the air pressure in your tires in check.
Having the correct tire pressure saves fuel, which is not only good for the planet, but good for my wallet.
Eating foods lower on the food chain, or opting for meatless meals a few times a week, can also make a difference.
A 2008 study by the National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science estimated that 2.2 pounds of beef is responsible for the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the average European car and burns enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for almost 20 days.
Despite all of the tips and tricks environmentalists have to offer, it seems that the bottom line is that we all have to consume less.
For me, that means buying products only when I need them and not being so quick to replace them.
Sure, my ghastly bedroom lamp looks like it came out of the 1970s, but it does its job. Why buy a new one and send my old lamp straight into the landfill?
My silverware is mismatched, my furniture is outdated and my car was built in the last century, but they all do their job.
• Andrea Frainier, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or afrainier@ thegardenisland.com.
